Strictly Warns The Consequences Of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Visit To Taiwan, China: We Are Strongly Against

Ketua DPR AS Nancy Pelosi. (Wikimedia Commons/United States Congress/Office of Nancy Pelosi)

JAKARTA - China has again issued a strong warning that Washington will bear all the consequences of the visit of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, increasing tensions between the two countries.

"We firmly oppose Chairman Pelosi's visit to Taiwan," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference.

"If the US pushes forward and challenges China's bottom line, the US side will bear all the consequences arising from it," he added.

Democratic Taiwan lives under constant threat of attack by China, which views the self-governing island as part of its territory to be seized by force if necessary.

A possible visit by Nancy Pelosi, which has not been confirmed by senior Democrats, has raised concerns in President Joe Biden's administration, which fears the trip could cross a red line for China.

It comes at a particularly difficult time as President Xi Jinping, China's most powerful leader in decades, prepares to cement his power later this year at a major party gathering.

Pelosi told reporters last week that it was "important for us to show support for Taiwan", while denying Congress was pushing for independence for the island.

In this regard, President Joe Biden cited concerns from the US military about Pelosi's possible trip earlier this week.

"I don't think the military thinks it's a good idea right now, but I don't know what the status is," Biden said on Wednesday when asked if it was a good idea for Pelosi to travel to the self-governing island.

Taiwan enjoys bipartisan support in a divided Washington and China's warnings have only fueled calls for Pelosi to move on.